“How would we know if the tumor in my intestine is cancerous or not?”

Hello. I am not sure about the symptoms that you were having prior to the discovery of this tumor. However it is necessary to know what this tissue is. Your doctor needs to help you decide how to obtain a small amount of tissue (a biopsy) so that a pathologist can look at it and make a diagnosis. Where this tumor is located defines the options. Sometimes a colonoscopy can be performed. Sometimes a needle biopsy by a skilled radiologist can be performed. These procedures are not usually procedures that have a large number of side effects. But it is necessary to know what the tissue is in order to figure out what treatment should be done. Many of these tumors are curable. Treatment options, though, are dependent on what the tissue is. Sometimes medications can be prescribed for patients who are nervous about going through the recommended procedure. I urge you to have it done. Please discuss your concerns with your doctor. Good luck!

If you have a tumor in your intestines, you need to consider where it is. Is it in your large or small intestine? If it is in the large intestine, a colonoscopy can possibly find the tumor to biopsy it. You would need to find a gastroenterologist, a physician who deals with the intestines. He or she can explain how to determine if the tumor needs to be biopsied and how to go about it. Surgery is not a thing to have fear about and it is often necessary. You are cared for by a medical expert, the surgeon and a cadre of medical professionals who are concerned about you AND your comfort. You sleep through the entire procedure and are kept comfortable through your recovery period. It's not a walk in the park, but it may prevent your death.

In your colon (large bowel) or intestines (small bowel)? If colon, colonoscopy with biopsy is easy. If truly small bowel (very rare), capsule endoscopy would be used to define the location and a laparoscopic procedure can remove the area in question.